Comparted traveling bag



Dec. 8, 1953 L.. NELSON, JR

COMPARTED TRAVELING BAG Filed Aug. 51, 1950' Z INVENTOR- [a wrezzce M19022 :5:

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 OFFIQE 2,661,824 CUMPKRTED TRAvEmNe-BAG 'L'awrence Nelson, Jr.,"Chicag'o, 111; Application August 31, 1950, serial ire-182,480 4-'Glaim"s. (01. 190-51) This'finventio'n relates "to luggage "of the type presently known as a club or *sportsfi bag. This "type of *bag is o'f comparatively small dimens'io'n as regards general-use luggage; Generally the bottom part is more or less of rectanevlar-contour with the "ends of 'gothic or triangular form extending above the bottom part "and'havin'g-atop section'that swings down onto or up from the'archedortrian'gular endst'o' close "or open verticalaccessto the'interior of the'ba'g. This 'topsectionmay' be "either a pair of parts separately hinged alongthe upper edges of the "*side's'ofthebase part so as'to swing toward and away from each other ora'pair of parts flexibly 'orrigidly united, "one ofwhich is hinged along theupp'er edge o'fpne of'th'e'sides-of the bottom *part; Suitable latches'areprovided for securing 'thefto'p section in'its closedpositio'n.

Bags'of'thistype named for carrying a relatively small -number"of "personal items; more often than -not when one is'taking-ashort'quick journey and does notwant to be-greatlyen'cumbere'd. The nowcommon-designation club or sports bagderives from the fact-that thebags *find such extensive usefor brief recreational pursuitswhenone desires convenient 'means for c'arrying a change of apparel. On such occasions the "desire isto carry-either several "articles of non- -"sp'ortswear to which one may change after the recreation, or the "sportswear itself and which articles require packing with the least possible disarrang'ement or intercontact.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are-to provide an improved form of comparted club or sports bag wherein may be separately arranged in orderly manner several dissimilar articles-ofapparel out ofpontact with each other so, as to keep all items in the best condition for subsequent wear; to provide animproved bag of this kind particularly-adapted to afford separate compartments for such dissimilar items as a pair of vshoes, one or two shirts and a pair of trousers -or a'skir-t; to provide an improved comparting means which-maybe arranged in a club o'rsports bag of conventional construction to convert it 'izitosectionalized form for the abovejpurpose; and to pro'vide'an improved traveling-bag com- .parting means which is exceptionally simple in construction, anahence economical to manufacture, and which isexceeding'lyfacile for a wide variety'of uses involvingthe-transport of:a small fnumber of veryv different,iconventional articles of apparel, and especially for those engaged in various kinds of sport.

In the "accompanying drawings:

Fig.- '1 is a perspectiveview-of one'type a emia" or "sports bag'wherewiththis irivention is particularly adapted for use;

Fig; 2 1s a'tran'svrs'e sectional-view showing" one form of my invention; and

Fig. 3 is 'aperspe'ctive view of amodified form of the comparting means embodying-this' i-nvention,the same being equipped with means for adjustably positioning the domparti'ng m-eats in bags of varying widths;

'The essential concept of this invention in- *"vciives the "use-"Of a receptacle, preferably partitioned to separately support items *of apparel, which may be set in the bottom par-tot aconventional fclub or sports bag, orbe formed v as an integral'part thereof,-to form acompartment nearly coegrtensive with the inner raiser the side walls of the'bag "from the baseof the bag up across the top thereof and within which compartment outwardly of the receptacle maybe suspended a garment.

The embodiments of this concept, shown in the accompanying "drawings, each comprises a partitioned, bag-comparting receptacle 6; which'may be of the type shown in Fig. "'3 for inse'rtion in a conventionalbag, or'which may beper'manently ihtegratedwith the bag as shown in-Fig. 2; and with which comparting receptacles is'as'sociated a garment-suspending element 8.

The bag 1, for which this comparting-receptacle 6 is particularly designed for usefiisof the type, as hereinbefore noted,'presently referred 'ais a club or sports bag. These bags are made in various sizes, smaller than luggage -formorc extended travel, and generally have the bottom part 9 of elongated rectangular or oval "form. The bagnormally sets on-a b'ase'HL-and 'ac'cess'to the interior of the bag isvertical as permitted by a closure or top section II. The closure ortop section 'I I is hinged to thebottom'partsand, in itsclosed position, rests ontheends 1-2 wher'eit is 'releasably' retained by latches +3.

The arched'clo'sure 'l'! is made of twois'ecti'on's, I '-A and I l-B, whichm'ay be hinged atthe -sides and close at the top, or itheyinay beangularly integrated, as shown in "Fig. 2, and ohe' section hinged to 'OIie "of the bag sides I' l, as-ihdicalted at [5, so as to swing down onto the V-shap'ed 'c ndsl2. 'Usually flange's f6 are rormeu mongt e end edges of these sections of the closure H to embrace the upper edges of the bag ends [2 and prevent dust and water from :read'ily-entringt he in'terior'ofthe'ba'l.

The latches l3 are of conventional form for 3 bags of this kind. A handle ll of suitable form is attached to one of the sections [1-11 or ll-B or at the juncture thereof, depending upon the form of the closure H.

The comparting receptacle 6, partitioned to separately contain smaller articles of apparel, is designed to be placed in the bottom part 9 of the bag I in spaced relationship to the sides It of the bag I to constitute a compartment 18 extending from the base 10 on opposite sides of the receptacle 6 along the sides of the bag 1 up over the top of the receptacle 6 nearly coextensive with the inner faces of the sides Hi and the sections H-A and 11-13 of the closure ll. Such a compartment it provides space wherein a pair of trousers or a slnrt may be suspended over the element 8 entirely out of contact with the other articles of apparel and with the minimum likelihood of wrinkling.

The comparting receptacle 6 obviously may be made of various materials, and in somewhat different shapes, depending upon the character of the bag Wherewith it is to be used. It may be either definitely integrated with the bag structure itself, as best shown in Fig. 2, or separately formed as a unit and set in the bag, where it is held in place by adjustable spacers l9, mounted on the ends of the comparting receptac e 6 (see Fig. 3).

The comparting receptacle 8 is provided with a partition 20 so as to constitute separate compartments 2| and 22 for smaller articles of apparel. For example, shoes and socks may be conveniently arranged in the lower compartment 2 l, where they would. be completely isolated from contact with other apparel. Shirts and underwear or similar articles could be laid on the partition 20.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. the receptacle 6 is made by anchoring two separate pieces of suitable material 5-11 and 5-3 to the base it] and the ends 12 of the bag 1, in the desired spaced relationship, to form compartments I8, 2! and 22. The partition 20 is here shown as a more or less rigid piece of material hinged at 28 on the inner face of the receptacle side piece (i-A so as to be swung down onto and up away from a stop or ledge 21 on the inner face of the receptacle side piece 6-3.

Two pieces of material 3| and 32 are angularly arranged to serve as an arched closure for the receptacle 5, being suitably hinged thereto at 33. Latches 36 may be provided for releasably holding the element 8 in its closed garmen suspending position. Preferably the angular junction of the pieces 3! and 32 might well have their ends slightly enlarged and heightened with shoulders 35, which would tend to keep the garment-trousers or skirtfrom too easily shifting along the element during transport.

On occasion it may be desirable to have a removable comparting receptacle 5 so that a previously-produced bag I could be appropriately comparted for the herein described purposes.- To accomplish this, a separately formed comparting receptacle 6, with integral ends, and an integral garment-suspending element 8, and with a suitable inner partition may be equipped with adjustable spacers l9 adapted to accommodate the comparting receptacle 5 to and properly position it in bag of varying widths.

The spacers l9, fixed at the ends of the receptacle 6, each comprise a pair of overlapping bars or rods 36 slidably supported in a bracket 31 secured to the end of the receptacle 6 and mounting a tightening screw 38. Although these spacers 19 are herein shown on the outside of the comparting receptacle 6, whereby the spacers might require adjustment prior to inserting the receptacle 6 in the bag 1, it will be obvious that the spacers 19 could be arranged on the inside of the receptacle ends and extend through slots in the side walls whereupon adjustment of the spacer 19 could be made after the comparting receptacle 6 had been inserted in the bag I.

It will be noted that when the arched closure 8 is folded all the way back, such closure constitutes a tray upon which articles may be laid prior to being packed in the comparting-receptacle B, of which the closure forms a part.

Although the emphasis herein has been on the provision of a comparted club or sports bag, it will be understood that such a bag would be found to be highly practical for other uses.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement, other than those herein illustrated, may be resorted to Within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A traveling or sports bag comprising an outer case having side and end walls and a closable arched top therefor, said arched top including inwardly sloped converging top walls, an inner case substantially coextensive in length with the outer case and centered therein, and having side walls spaced from the side walls of the outer case to form an inner compartment within the inner case and an outer compartment exteriorally thereof, an arched closable top for the inner case, said latter top conforming generally in shape to the arched top of the outer case and being spaced from the first-named top when both are closed, whereby the arched top of the inner case may be used as a hanger for clothing with the clothing extending on both sides of the inner case within said outer compartment.

2. A traveling or sports bag a set forth in claim 1 in which the inner case has bottom and end walls in addition to said side walls, whereby the inner case is removable as a unit from the outer case.

3. A traveling or sportsbag as set forth in claim 2 in which adjustable means engageable with the side walls of the outer case are provided on the inner case for centrally locating and holding the inner case within the outer case.

4. A traveling or sports bag as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner case is divided into upper and lower compartments by a hinged partition.

LAWRENCE NELSON, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent Great Britain Aug. 10, 1922 

